A system and method are described for proactively performing key swaps among nodes in a quantum key distribution (QKD) network. The method includes determining a routing solution for nodes in the QKD network; making the routing solution available to the nodes in the QKD network; and initiating key swaps among the nodes in the QKD network according to the routing solution, prior to key requests being made within the QKD network. The method can also include continuously performing key swaps among the nodes in the QKD network according to the routing solution; detecting a change in capacity and/or a change in demand on one or more links within the QKD network; determining a new routing solution based on the detected change; and continuously preforming subsequent key swaps according to the new routing solution.

A 1D diamond nanobeam can act as a coherent mechanical interface between spin defect centers in diamond and telecom optical modes. The nanobeam includes embedded mechanical and electric field concentrators with mechanical and optical mode volumes of V.sub.mech/Λ.sub.p.sup.3 ˜10.sup.−5 and V.sub.opt/λ.sup.3 ˜10.sup.−3, respectively. With a Group IV vacancy in the concentrator, the nanobeam can operate at spin-mechanical coupling rates approaching 40 MHz with high acousto-optical couplings. This nanobeam, used in an entanglement heralding scheme, can provide high-fidelity Bell pairs between quantum repeaters. Using the mechanical interface as an intermediary between the optical and spin subsystems enables addressing the spin defect center with telecom optics, bypassing the native wavelength of the spin. As the spin is never optically excited or addressed, the device can operate at temperatures up to 40 K with no appreciable spectral diffusion, limited by thermal losses. Optomechanical devices with high spin-mechanical coupling can be useful for quantum repeaters.

Provided are a quantum key distribution method, device, and system. The quantum key distribution system may include: a (1-1)th quantum key distribution device (QKD1-1); a (2-1)th quantum key distribution device (QKD2-1) connected to the QKD1-1 by a first quantum channel (CH1); a (3-1)th quantum key distribution device (QKD3-1) connected to a (1-2)th quantum key distribution device (QKD1-2) by a second quantum channel (CH2); a first quantum node control device (QNC1) for controlling the operation of the QKD1-1 and the QKD1-2; a second quantum node control device (QNC2) for controlling the operation of the QKD2-1; and a third quantum node control device (QNC3) for controlling the operation of the QKD3-1, wherein: in the QNC1, the first quantum key passes through a plurality of paths including a first path (P1) for connecting the QNC1 and the QNC3, so as to bypass the CH1, thereby being transmitted to the QNC2; and in the P1, the key is encoded with a third quantum key shared between the QKD1-2 and the QKD3-1, and is transmitted.

Entangled quantum photons augment a classically encrypted data message and the augmented message, classical decryption key and quantum photon augmentation key are transmitted on a single classical transmission line to a receiver. Eavesdroppers, i.e., attacks, are detected in accordance with changes to the quantum photons in the augmented message.

The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to quantum key distribution (“QKD”) networking as a service. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a microservices controller can establish a plurality of quantum connections with a plurality of virtual quantum connection managers (“vQCMs”) deployed in association with a set of quantum user nodes (“QUNs”) in a QKD network. The microservices controller can receive a request to initialize the QKD network. The microservices controller can coordinate with the plurality of vQCMs to handle initialization of the QKD network. The microservices controller can receive a QKD service request from a QKD network operator. The microservices controller can invoke a plurality of microservices to handle the QKD service request.

This application discloses quantum key distribution methods and devices, and storage media. In an implementation, an i.sup.th node generates, based on a determined first quantum key corresponding to the i.sup.th node on a target routing path and a determined second quantum key corresponding to the i.sup.th node on the target routing path, a third quantum key corresponding to the i.sup.th node on the target routing path, and sends the third quantum key corresponding to the i.sup.th node on the target routing path to a destination node on the target routing path, or encrypts a received first ciphertext by using the third quantum key corresponding to the i.sup.th node on the target routing path, and sends an obtained second ciphertext corresponding to the i.sup.th node to an (i+1).sup.th node on the target routing path.

A system and method for providing quantum entanglement as a service are described. Intermediate nodes which may be located in trusted or trustless locations are used to distribute quantum entanglement to endpoints, such as endpoints of customers of a quantum entanglement distribution service. The distributed quantum entanglement provides a secure communication path that does not rely on trust placed in an infrastructure or software provider. To distribute the quantum entanglement, intermediate nodes comprising quantum memories are used. Joint measurements are performed on quantum particles of respective entangled quantum pairs received at the intermediate nodes without collapsing superposition states of the particles. This allows for the quantum entanglement to be extended across intermediate nodes while maintaining entanglement and superposition of the entangled quantum particles.

A communications system may include a transmitter node, a receiver node, and an optical communications channel coupling the transmitter node and receiver node. The transmitter node may include a pulse transmitter and a pulse divider downstream therefrom. The receiver node may include a pulse recombiner and a pulse receiver downstream therefrom.

According to an embodiment, a quantum communication device is adapted to correct first sift key data acquired by performing sift processing with respect to a quantum bit string received from a transmission device via a quantum communication path. The quantum communication device includes a determination unit and a correction unit. The determination unit determines setting information of error correction on the first sift key data from an estimated error rate of the first sift key data and a margin of the estimated error rate. The correction unit generates corrected key data by performing the error correction with the setting information.

A quantum communication system, comprising: a quantum transmitter optically coupled to a first waveguide; a first communication device optically coupled to a second waveguide; a multi-core optical fiber comprising a first core and a second core; a spatial multiplexing unit, configured to optically couple the first waveguide to the first core and the second waveguide to the second core.